Direct Connection Problems

[Firelord]

I have been having a problem with hosting direct connection games. Every time I host one, I can get 3 of my friends to direct connect. But that is it. I cannot get more then 4 people ( including myself) on my hosted server. It is also the same for the other people I play with. They cannot host more then 4 or 3, depending on the person. I get the same error every time. Connection Refused by host . I don't know why it does not let them, even when I turn my firewall off, I cannot get more then 4 people (including myself) on my server.
I do not use a router althought I do have SP2. I do not know how to shut off the SP2 firewall. I also do not know how to open ports, so that would be helpful. here is my log:
sorry its mad long didnt know which parts were of importance

22:24:47.5 HostState - 67.84.241.13:6112 / 67.84.241.13:6112
22:24:47.5 Lobby - LIE_ClearBanList received
22:24:47.5 Session : Now Host
22:24:47.5 Session : We are now a Host
22:24:47.7 Lobby - Sending a player update message to all players
22:24:47.7 Lobby - host created
22:24:47.7 local 5ebce4ce
22:24:47.7 Lobby - LOE_JoinHostResult received
22:24:47.7 Lobby - Ignoring New Peer for local player
22:24:47.7 GameSetupNetwork registering with lobby
22:24:58.9 SPOOGE -- 295.00MB available texture memory
22:24:59.3 SPOOGE -- 293.00MB available texture memory
22:25:02.1 HostState::ProcessConnectAttempt - accepting connection for Bruski
22:25:02.1 HostState - Starting connection
22:25:02.2 HostState::HandlePeerDoneConnectingEvent - peer (Bruski) connected to all peers
22:25:02.2 Lobby -- Remote player connected (Bruski) (66afdc68)
22:25:02.5 Lobby - Net REQUEST SEND PLAYER INFO received for player (1) ()
22:25:02.5 Lobby - Net REQUEST SEND PLAYER INFO received for player (1) (Bruski)
22:25:02.5 Lobby - Net REQUEST SEND PLAYER INFO received for player (1) (Bruski)
22:25:02.8 Lobby - Net REQUEST SEND PLAYER INFO received for player (1) (Bruski)
22:25:19.4 SPOOGE -- 298.00MB available texture memory
22:25:19.9 SPOOGE -- 293.00MB available texture memory
22:25:37.5 SPOOGE -- 298.00MB available texture memory
22:25:38.0 SPOOGE -- 293.00MB available texture memory
22:25:54.2 SPOOGE -- 298.00MB available texture memory
22:25:54.6 SPOOGE -- 293.00MB available texture memory
22:26:18.4 HostState::ProcessConnectAttempt - accepting connection for DMasta
22:26:18.4 HostState - Starting connection
22:26:18.5 HostState::HandleSendNATCookie - sending a NAT negotiation request to (Bruski) (1722801256)
22:26:19.4 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:19.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:20.0 SPOOGE -- 298.00MB available texture memory
22:26:20.4 SPOOGE -- 293.00MB available texture memory
22:26:20.4 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:20.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:21.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:21.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:22.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:22.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:23.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:23.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:24.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:24.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:25.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:25.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:26.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:26.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:27.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:27.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:28.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:28.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:29.2 HostState::ProcessConnectAttempt - accepting connection for Skull_Bunny
22:26:29.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:29.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:30.1 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:30.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:30.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:30.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:31.1 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:31.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:31.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:31.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:32.1 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:32.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:32.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:32.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:33.1 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:33.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:33.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:33.8 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:34.1 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:34.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:34.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:34.9 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:35.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:35.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:35.5 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:35.9 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:36.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:36.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:36.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:37.0 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:37.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:37.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:37.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:38.0 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:38.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:38.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:38.6 HostState::HandlePeerDoneConnectingEvent - peer (DMasta) didn't connect to all peers (missing peer (Bruski) (1722801256)
22:26:38.6 Closing connection 1898e00
22:26:38.6 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - reason 0
22:26:38.6 Closing connection 1898e00
22:26:38.6 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - not someone we knew about
22:26:39.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:39.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:40.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:40.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:41.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:41.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:42.2 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:42.2 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:42.4 HostState::ProcessConnectAttempt - accepting connection for DMasta
22:26:42.4 HostState - Starting connection
22:26:42.4 HostState::HandleSendNATCookie - sending a NAT negotiation request to (Bruski) (1722801256)
22:26:43.3 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:43.4 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:43.4 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:43.4 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:44.4 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:44.4 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:44.4 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:44.4 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:45.4 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:45.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:45.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:45.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:46.4 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:46.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:46.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:46.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:47.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:47.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:47.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:47.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:48.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:48.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:48.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:48.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:49.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:49.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:49.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:49.6 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:50.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:50.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:50.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:50.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:51.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:51.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:51.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:51.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:52.5 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:52.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:52.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:52.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:53.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:53.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:53.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:53.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:54.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:54.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:54.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:54.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:55.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:55.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:55.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:55.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:56.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:56.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:56.7 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:56.8 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:57.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:57.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:57.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:57.8 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:58.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:58.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:58.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:58.8 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:59.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:59.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:26:59.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:26:59.8 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:27:00.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:27:00.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:27:00.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:27:00.8 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:27:01.6 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.84.131.254:6112
22:27:01.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.84.131.254:6112
22:27:01.7 State::SendKeepAlives - sending to 67.81.109.32:6112
22:27:01.9 State::HandleKeepAlive - keep alive received from 67.81.109.32:6112
22:27:02.4 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - reason 1
22:27:02.4 Closing connection 7e7c808
22:27:02.4 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - (DMasta) (0) InQueue
22:27:02.4 HostState::HandlePeerDoneConnectingEvent - peer (Skull_Bunny) didn't connect to all peers (missing peer (Bruski) (1722801256)
22:27:02.4 Closing connection 7e7c760
22:27:02.4 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - reason 0
22:27:02.4 Closing connection 7e7c760
22:27:02.4 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - not someone we knew about
22:27:14.0 SPOOGE -- 298.00MB available texture memory
22:27:14.5 SPOOGE -- 293.00MB available texture memory
22:27:28.8 Lobby - LIE_QuitGame received
22:27:28.8 App : Closing session
22:27:28.8 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - reason 0
22:27:28.8 HostState::ProcessConnectionClosed - not someone we knew about
22:27:28.8 Lobby - LIE_ClearBanList received
22:27:32.6 EnterMultiplayerForm registering with lobby
22:27:32.7 Lobby - LOE_LobbySystemConnectionResult received
22:27:37.0 GAME -- Ending FE
22:27:37.1 MOD -- (mod manager) shutting down
22:27:37.7 SPOOGE -- 285.00MB available texture memory
22:27:37.7 SPOOGE -- 286.00MB available texture memory

I don't know why it refused them but it happens not on my computer but on theirs as well. None of us are on routers. Thanks.

[ÜberJumper]

None of you are on Routers? Do any of you have firewalls running? Especially windows SP2 firewalls.

Also, make sure all of you are on DirectX 9.0c.

[SloBurn]

My friends and I have the same problem. We tried to get 5 guys on last night but to no avail. Sometimes you randomly get connection refused errors but then if you keep trying it works. But we narrowed down the main problem to the 2 guys who connect through routers. One can join but the other can't. So if one disconnects the other can join but they can't both be on. I read that you can't have more than 2 people with routers atm but we can't have more than one.........

[Scout7]

Yup, I'm seeing the same problem. Although we could only get 3 people in game. As soon as one leaves, a new person can join. We all turned off all firewalls and still no luck. Couldn't get more than 3 people in direct IP games. Please fix this in next patch.

One more detail, I can host 4v4 games on gamespy without any trouble and most of my friends can join. Some are behind college firewalls that can't use gamespy, so that is why we were trying direct IP. And again any 2 others can join for a total of 3 players, but can't get any more. As one leaves a new person can join. And we confirmed that every single person could join, just not more than 2 at a time :( Very annoying.

[SloBurn]

You'll probably find it's due to router issues. Like I said, everyone could join normally as long as only one person with a router was there. When the second router user tried to join they couldn't. but if the first one left the second one could join no problems....

[ÜberJumper]

http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=38722 <--- explains it.

[Calebthom]

hey there, I suggested this one in another thread, but no answer, so I try here :)
Anyone ever tried a VPN- Network and then using the LAN-Lobby?

[SloBurn]

AAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I see now. Well done on banning that CSO guy btw, what a moron.

So basically we have to wait for a patch that will stop the internal IP being used?

[ÜberJumper]

Basically, or you can work around it by using a VPN lan as Calebthom suggests.